Device for washing golf balls



Dec. 30, 1930.

H. D. DAY 1,787,306

DEVICE FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS Filed April 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jgew Wo/M "I jf llli ll lIli? lIII j if?? #0 3 i' if. a mm -y f7 ,Y I', l 6 7 n 6J 1 f IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE YS.

Dec. 430, 1930. H. D. DAY

DEVICE FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS Filed April 30. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. zawaf/'a/ ,0. ay [gy/[97W ATTORNEYS.

` s -cordingfto -my invention;V`

V"Patented Dem-30, 1930.

weies PATENT 1 OFFICE iaoivARn nner,-k olPRoviDENcE,ferions-ISLAND, AssieNon TOKROTERKLEEN MANU- i ,iEAcTiiRiNeg;COMPANY,0F; PROVIDENCE; RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION or v RHODE '1sLANn 'A'This invention 'machin'esa for washing y articles l suchz 'fas balls and the like,

and is] ofthe types fwn`l in iii'ywv Patent-No;

bi .g ne *is'fiii the",pressi'ice of a V`cleansing l fluid? ff" 1 ll!) lAnother obj ectis to provide afball cleaning. machinel whereinfthe" b'aljls i are rapidly Vi/iblrate'd'v between 'ring-shaped, brushes dis.- posed'jat right."angleslto-eachother; s* richer Querer@ provide a meri ball Y1li 'cai ier: withrrreanswhich will causetheballs 1 vto move 'into'contact withseparate stationary *The invention further consists in the' provision ofV a'ball cleaning'smachine wherein ,20 the 'cleansing fluid'r isfdischargedl radially from the-center of a Votary balljcarri'er inthe formofsafne spray.'` Anoth'r object isfto provide ay ballclea'ningl machine wherein the rotary 'ball carrier is' carried by one end of the' hollow' drive shaftof an electricfmotor"andfin which the' cleansingui-d flowsv throi'ighth'e motor shaft and'f'is discharged radially' from the center oft-the ball carrier.- 'f 'e AHstill-further object is Ato produce aneiiicient,strong`fand durableball washingma#V chine which maybe economically constructed ai'idoperated-.f y ff Withthese 'and `otheriobje'cts in'viewfthe invention: consists lof certain novel featuresy of'ici'm'struction,l asfwill be more fullyv describedV andparticularlyfpointed A,out in the append'edc'laims'.' f f f l? f .f .fInthefaccompanyingdrawingsirf; I' l l Figure 1"-is an elevation,y partly in 'sectioin of v1a* balli washing `'machinei cons'triicted,`r ac- Figure' 2 isan enlarged section through the yupperfportion"offthe-machine; 'Figure/3 is afhorizontalflsectiontakeii'oii the line 3 3 of Figure-2f i'ier;`VA 5 s i a 'vertical longitudinal i section saisi-arise; Mina,

DEVICE Non WASHING GOLF BALLs ma seriai No. 273,895.

vlligure6 isa vertical section of a modification'of the means for rotating the ball carrierian'dV i -Wk l- Figuref is ldetail ysection taken on the line -7-17k of Figure 6.,

chine a'dapted to be set in theplaying field,

for convenience, the machine being adapted to receive oney or more balls and-by a single vfoot operation be actuated to quickly 'clean the entire surfaceof the balls, the balls being rapidly turned and vibrated between a rotary carrier and a, plurality of ring-shaped brushes5 and upon the removal of the foot at the completion ofthe operation, the machine quickly stops permitting-the cleaned ball to roll on the-inclined surface inwardly to the center where it may be readily engaged and removed thru the center opening; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention and showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

Referring tothe drawings, and especially to `Figures 1 Kto 5 inclusive, the machine coniprises a hollow standard 11, having a hanged vbase 12 for 'Supporting the machine over an openiiiglff ina suitable foundation 14.

On the upper end of the standard 11 there isr ar head comprising a lower bowl-shaped body 15 and an upper body l'that may be detachablvconnected to the body 15.y

The body 16, which is of less diameter than the bowl 15, has a grooved flange y17 projecting from its lower-edge." This iange rests on the upper edge of the bowl, and atinte'rvals aroiindthe bottom-of the flange there are d epending plates 18 that are .disposed on-the interior of thebowll and are fastened thereto'by means of screws" 19. The groove inthe iange 17 should be madearcuate -in cross section, asjbestshown in vFigure 2, and this groove may be perforated, as at 20, to permit liquidvto drain into the interior of the bowl.

iii)

. y I i' .y 1,787,306"

i v- Thetoploffthe body 16 has an inwardly eX@ bearing surface vfor the end of: theV Inotor tending horizontal flangei2l, theinner portion of whi'oh'is formed-with-'an inverted annular rectangular groove 22 which niay be raised above the flange 21V in the manner shown, Y ,Y

, An,annular-ril'rislr linountefvlfwith'- K in the `groove 22, being confined between the sidewalls of the'groove.` `The bristle'sfof4 the A cylindricalbrush241 isiniounted:

interior'of the vbody 16 directlyV beneath the vflange'2l, the bristles of the Lbru'sh extending -radially inwardly of the body 16.l

The brush 24.hasl a greater. diameter `than that' ofthe brush ,2,3I so. thatl when the .two

brushes are ,disposed relative to'reach. otherfin the 'inann'erjsh'o'wn an angularlannularjscrubfthe-'balls being' cleaned, f and itfisadapted to' be actuated atjfrelatively high speeds so that. v ,the vballs carriedtherebyj will loe-directed toberwill be provided.`

A amaba 25 is; mettrai wahrnuigtedy 16,. directly beneathfthe' brushes 23 and 24. This' tiuntitblje'provide's a 4rotary carrierv for war'dsfthe stationaryjbrushes by centrifugal .forceto roll bafclltomthei centeronthe inclined j surface 'of the turntable when-'the turntablel stops rotating.. i

' ter of upper'surfaceof the yturnt'iable there is 'a' raised portionf2'7fthat isv disposed diainet'ri'cally opposite thev boss 261,

'The `center of the', turntable 4is bored, as

shown at 28, which opening extends verti; callly frein the bottom of the bossr26lfand 4,terminaites at a" distance from the -top of ythe raised portion 27. Laterally. extending openings 29 are formed radially in the portion 27j frorn the-'topl of the opening 28.

In way,liquidflowing upwardly wthru i fthe turntable will be distributedY radially 1 The top' of they turntable has a circular pad 8.0 mounted thereon,l suchpad being retained in pillaee by means Vof screws 81. l The. pad may be inadeiof any suitable resilient material such rubber, orthelike, and'atiintervals around periphery-of thetu-rntable the pad y SO/has; Cernented'fthereto: a plurality of'radithe bottom ofthe turn-table and'is there- Y tojbyjineansfof vvasset screw' Inount'ed'i'n the Ybo'ssf26 The lower vend ofthe .shaft 34 isl inernauy threaded, 'asfindiened' at 3e, Fig. 11re`5f,1. for receiving the. .threaded shank.. of

f aV headed@niember` 37 'providing an; enlarged Tlre underside ofthe turntable( 725fhas a centrally.' disposed. ,boss/j 2,6,v'while .on the cen-f' shaft. Y Y..

The 1notor'33 Ahas a pluralityof plates 38 attached thereto near the upper'V end thereof. The plates 38 are provided With laterally eX- vtending lipsA 39, which resti on. the upper 'hangedportion 40of a casing 41; 'V f Y lThe `casing 41 is suspendedwithinthe bowl 15by ineansof a'n'annular carrier 42. Y

/ vThe carrier 42`eomprisesia2n1ain'body' portioninth formofa ringradaptefdlto receive the flange 40 of the casingll'..:fft-intervals around the-l ringv there are outwardly projecting radially disposed arms 43. The'rarms 48 are' internally'th-readedfor receiving the bolts are formed withfai ellmgd pOt-ion 45-forV receiving the jaws :of krawrench ,or other to'ol (not shofwny forturning .the 'beltsin..

Vwardly or outwardly withvrespeot tothe farms p.

43. The bolts" 44 jterininatelb'eyond the. enlarged portions 45in'theffor1nof` an elongated4 head l46 which'are Inoun't'e'd in corresponding:

lydisposed openings 4"( forined infthe rimof thebowlrl. f

carrier 42 are provided Withalignedopenings for -rec'e-ivinglscrews 501` In this. way'theparts enclosing land sul'po'rting` .the kmoto-Lean v'be rrnly secured together. f

For Vthe purpose .of excluding.,the.V c Ieaiisingv liquidfroinftfhe notor 33,1' utilize a suitable Washer 52;- which surroundslaeollar kon the the rnotor'shaftY isv interposed between. the

vbottom ofthe rnoton and the .contiguous por-` jthreadedshanks ofk suspensionbolts'44f. tThe *ving 48zhavingran;annularflange: 49'. The flanges of the vca'jsings `4]. and48v andthe` tion.' of ,the casing 41..; Vi/fhenthev screws. 50

are turned Etojdraw the separate sections of the motor casingtogether thewashers 52r'and v54 will..becon1pressedthereby sealing the openings, thrueach end Vof the casing..` Furt'herrnore,. a suitable vgasket- 56 mayQ-be: inserted between the abutting flangessof the caslngsz-tlf and. 48",y to .provide a tightA joint therebetween.. In this manner foreign mat# u ter willbe prevented Vfrom passing; into the motor during the operationoffthe'inachin .v

pipe'57 is disposed within; thestandard ll and is,Y designedv to -Y deliver' the# cleansing liquid to the' head of@ the machine: llhe' top of.r the pipeV is provided n with `a1 vvperforated washer 58, preferably gofleatherf, the openf ing-inzwhich should alignwith the opening in the motor shaft." The .washer'risx-Ietained to the end ofthe pipe.4

thevboaqm; 0f,- plug andes assist-'in mea-'soc f? 4F01? `'the purpose ofl centering? pipelwithin; the .stan'dardfll, I "use/ia collar'k 601`which encircles" th'e.:pipe' ands fisl provided with? a Y plu'ralityfof radialfopenings-li The openings Gilfa're'threaded tolreceiivethe threaded j s'hanks`=fo ff' bolts` 6051- The headsof the bolts 'are .fa'dapted`v` to bear against thev l interior sur* face of. the'standardandlbyfturning the boltsv relativelygfto 'each other' the pipe 'can' be `correctly positioned,= asvfwill A"be readily undel-, stood.V Lockl nutsj''fmay'be used .on the Shanks'l of "thei bolts fori: retaining the l'parts `intheiradjiisted position. r

V YThe 'lower Vend of 'the lpipe (57. is connected to a? horizontally "disposed supply- 'pipe v 64. IfL {so'f l@desired "theffendVA roffthe pipe 64, which eatendsf'acrossfthe 'opfenin'g 18, may be'suspended from-'fthe base i12 by means'y of Y hangers-655: t 1

66, :the normal'fpositionof which is closed.'

' Thiszvalve hasstem`67fproj ectin'g upwardly therefrom and received withinba plunger 71'fthereinifor receiving -a treadle 72. JDhe y treadleis pivotally connected tothe plate 7 0 by meanswof a-"p'inff: EXtendingfdownwardlyl and rearwardly fromgthe" treadle is anf arm 74v terminating in: an enlarged portion l7 5: 'The-'construction "of the parts should bei; such that the'portio'n-.75provides a'counterweight fornormallyretaining lthe'treadle at anfanglefintheopening f f f 7l. Y Direct-ly above the'fend of pthe: armw72, the plate A170. ibas fixed'l theretoiafswitch boXr7`6 having a dependingfbutton` '77 :in juxtaposi- K' tionto.Y the end of the arm 74.

fElectricconduotorsf7'8 and 79 from a suitableisou'rceof ,supply leadfinto the boi( 76, while conductors`-80 'and --81 lead from .the

switch box and 'pass rupwardlfyjthrough fthe standard*- lflfand are Xed Atoterininials 8d2' and 83 respectively, ontlrefmoto'r 33.' Y y y l k""Thej arrangement of th'e'parts yshould be sphtht when emanarsi/2 is'fdepress'ed by tli'efootof. an operator, the portin75 ofthe .the 'liquid will be deflected outwardly through the gapbetween the lower endof the motor shaft 34 and the capf59 thereby providing a A 'cushion therebetween. f

The v'liquid not deflected as abovedescribed will flow` upwardly through the motor shaft andv be distributedthrough the'openings 29. By the useo'f my improved device, it is only necessary-.to deposit the balls through the mouth of the head onto the turntable 25, and then depress'ther-treadle .7 2, whereupon the turn-table willbe revolved rapidly by the motor and streams of the cleansing liquid willilow fromthe portion27. The motion of the turntable will force the balls outwardly against the bristles of the brush4 24 and wheny the balls contact withv this brush they will be spunfaround ina Vdirectionfperpendi'cularf to the bed ofthe turntable. This action willv also .'retard'Lthemovement of the balls around-the periphery of the turntable, the Irapidly spinning turntable tending to carrythe 'balls forwardly withk it and the bristlesof the brush 24 retarding such action. Vhereuponthe turntable will of course have fa 'greater peripheral vspeed than that imparted to theballs, andv therefore the strips 32 willpass; beneath fballsand 'as such strips are disposed,slightlyabove .the face of turntable they :will forcei the ballsA upwardly against the bristles of the brush 23. In actual practicethe action obtained/produces a vibrating movementof thel'balls Aas they strips 32 pass rapidlyl therebeneathl vWvhen the balls are `forcedinto contactxwithfthe,bristles of the bruslr23, Athey `will ybe further retarded, but ingafdirection,atrightangles to the resistance' offered by the bristles of the brush 24. In this way thessur'face'of the balls willy kbe constantly moved Aand throughthe centrifugal :actionproduced by. therevolving turntablenew sections? of4 the surface of the balls will. becontinuous'ly brought into engagementlwith the brush bristles. f-fDuring this operation, the brushes and 4the balls will be supplied with a continuous stream of the cleansing liquidfwhich assists in thecleaning.' operation byquickly washing the balls.

.The surplus liquid fallsl downwardly on the outside `of the motorflcasing and into the bottom of the bowlfl, from which it will pass down Ythroughhthe ,standardx into the opention the foot can befremoved fromthe treadle 72, thereupon' stopping the rotation vof the turntable and/cutting'offn the supply of water. The balls can then be removed fromrthe head and deposited in thegroove yin the flange 1 7 to dry or to permit thesurplus liquidato drain therefrom. Ifso desired a towel or otherdrying clothl(not shown) may be car- ,ried lbyf. an'eye y'84 fixed shown iIrFigure 2. .l v

It is" observed that the inequalities ofthe Vsurface of the brushes'together with'the, general vibration produced by' theA rapidly roto .the machine as 'Y i 3 'ipsasoe Y xturntabley causesfthe ball to juinpg bound about'andat times cornerinto `contact .1 with theupperlbrush, which causes: the balls to rotate on an axis at Vrighta-nglesy to thatVv eausedby. Contact" withl the brush 24 soi that v,the general; jumping;` about 'of the balls iinv parts a 'universal irotation: thereto. causing` their, Whole surfacesrtoacoine Ainto Contact with thebrushesand-befcleaned@ 'Vh'ileI have hereinshown the employment 0fyan electric 'motor Ij-or.-l driving-` `the^ turn-V table, obviouslygany votherfnneans may be used,` such'forin'stancefas a Water: InotorzSS (see Figurestrand);l That herein-shown is A provided'` with .af .shellorfcasing 89, through the center of: lwhich ,extends .the 'Water-conf ducting tubular 'shatt-l 195 for, supplying- :the

" ball cleaning-'watergthe sameeas'ntheelectric vanesftlgof the WaterWheel'STto rapidly ro,A

' motor: A portion-ofthis:Waterfrom .the nai-n Water. tube ff-,fis permitted to pass. outward through theslotslintojthe .Inotor casing which portion: is. forced' through they holes 93 the; upperrplateQQ to impin-ge against the tate'the: same, ,and as this :Wheel 4is;attached to the center-tubular;shaft95, this Shaftgwith.

its ball supportingfturntableis rapidly rof-v tatedthe sameasbythe electric Inotorabove l f but I desire litto.'beunderstoodthat iI`^r=serve` "The f foregoing 'l rudescripti'onv :isV 'directed solelyztowards thev construction illustrated,

y' the privilegesoffresortingto allthemechanical4 changesxto lwhich thezdevice-is suscepti-` ble, the v invention being; defined and. limited Y `only bythe :terms yofthe appended claims.

The invention claimed is-r'- y LIn a cleaning machine-for gol'fballs and the like, a housing, an annular disk luush'andV afcylindrical brush mounted in Y saijdihousing in axial alignment with each otherya'l 'rotatablefrnember supporting'the ballsWithinone-ofthe brushes for revolving the ballsagainst saidbrushes, and meansfor imparting a'v Vibratory motion ,to said balls VWhile revolving in contact with said brushes.-

' ing itsbristles centripetally directed, nie'an'si l' es 2. In aV cleaning machine, lanV article' carrier, stationary-,1 ring-shaped lbrushes, 'one `of said brusheshaving its bristles extending down' towards the' carrier,"and'the other haV for rotati'ngthe carrier to Yforce articles caronfthe carrier Vfor (':ausi'n'gthe articles to vibrate 'thereon duringVY rotationV of said Carrier.l '1 3.*In a cleaning 1n'achine3fan annular disk b rushdanda cylindrical brush ymounted in 'axial alignment, their bristles being disposed at yrightangles to each other, ,a rotary article *Y "carrier, means for rotating the. carrier so as topresent articles-tothe brushesbyicentrifugalmforce, and.' meansonthe carrier for-'iiny Parting aumOementf tof the articlesj at right centrifugal'force. l' Y i i y f4, Ina cleaning machin n housingehavin'g aniopenfing, an inverted annular diskchannel 'angles y tof` the -frnovementg cpur@duced` the in saifdivhousing encirclingsaid;opening,r an Vannular I brushv mounted in said- V channel, a Ycylindricaly brushmounted;` inthe.- saidfhousmembers, an; electriernlotor 'or rotating. the saidl carrier, adjustable 'means 1for. supporte y ing-the Inotorin the fbowlyasupplypipe dis@ `posed Within ythe saidf'standard, conduit means connected `to said pi-pe andilextending through'said: motor and said* carriergand adj ustabl'e means forsupportingthe said pipe in thestandard Wherebyfsaldfpipe can be centered with; respectlto; the` said" motor and the said carrier.'` GL In "a cleaning'rnachine, in:y combination,

a housing,-Y stationary cleaning-fm'einbersY therein, and aiirota-ryl article@armeni-operatively ,associated with said stationary-Eurem- Vbers", afresilient': pad on .the upperjsurfa'ce of saidY carrier;l andiimpac't: means on: :said pad for imparting a/vibratory motioneto the articlesthereonvv 7.; Inljafjcleaningt machine, in combination,

a g housing,r` stationary'- cleaning Lrzrmelnb'ers therein, a rotary artlcle'l carrier operatively associatedfwith the s aijdrrnernbers, a resilient pad on the upper surface of the'sai'd-carrier, and strips* overlying 'the said pad and radially disposed. thereon in;y juxtapositioneto the said stationary members.' .l v Y 8. In a cleaningfinachine fori golf balls and the like, aV housing, anannular disk brush mounted inI said housing,-a cylindrical brush mounted inisaidfhousingfin axial ali/gn-v ment with' said annular brush,v the bristles of said brushes cooperating to-orm'the top and side fwalls L of ani annular ball receiving recess,and arotatable .disk vmember in axial alignment. with said brushes ,and forming the bottoinwallfofthe-recess to support abfall on the surface thereof ,inqengagelnent with thebristles. .f i

In testimony whereof` I `aiix Vmy signature.

' HOWARD D DA` 

